Table and fan combo

ABSTRACT

The device is comprised of a low profile motorized fan and housing enclosure that mounts out of plain site beneath a typical utility table top. The table and fan assembly allows for occupant leg room, easy storage, and portability of table. The fan enclosure avoids comingling of intake and vented air by redirecting intake air flow perpendicularly to the vented air. The enclosure vents air outward from the center of the underside of table top up to three hundred and sixty degrees parallel to the table top. The device allows for the optimum installation of an optional heater and or water mister device by supplying a section for their installation where the complete air stream is channeled. The enclosure provides optional receptacles for a shade umbrella support pole to transfer umbrella support loads through the housing enclosure.

This application claims benefit of Provisional Application filed Jun. 17, 2011 application No. 61/520,914

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of Invention

This invention relates to a low profile fan system that mounts out of view beneath table tops for the purpose of supplying a breeze for the comfort of the table's occupants.

(2) Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,811 Hopkins, U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,188 Benton, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,537,015 Molnar IV et al. all use a fan and table combination and is the closest art known. All primarily supply air current to the table's occupants for comfort. All three devices inherit several problems that are overcome by this present invention. Hopkins and Benton, patents . . . 811 and . . . 188, both have unstableness due to their high center of gravity and cannot efficiently heat or cool the breeze from the fan. Furthermore there is a safety concern as to expose rotating fan blades that are in close proximity of the occupants. Additionally, the fan obstructs view and creates a height restriction. Molnar's, patent . . . 015 incorporates an air treatment system instead of overhead fans that is mounted to the base of the table taking up valuable foot room from the occupants. In addition, his patent does not easily retrofit to existing tables because it perforates the table top and uses up table space. In all cases, the tables are somewhat heavy and unsightly making them less portable, storable, and attractive, which is more evident in Molnar's patent claiming wheels to make it easier to move the cumbersome device around.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Utility tables, such as the ones used by cafés and on patios have become very popular due to smoking regulations and in expanding dining areas to outside grounds. This has stimulated the need for more portable tables that can be moved and stored easily. In many cases these tables have to be low-profile in nature to please local covenants and able to be stacked for storage when not use.

There are many methods to extend the use of these utility tables when the outside temperatures become undesirable. The more typical ways are the use of external fans, heaters, and water mist. The present invention offers the advantages of these external devices without using table space, being heavy, having unsightly appearances, being unsafe, and other shortcomings.

The present invention relates to an inconspicuous light weight fan that can be fitted or retrofitted to the bottom side of new or existing table tops. The fan blows a sheet of air outward up to 360 degrees from beneath the table top. It utilizes an electric motor that is statically affixed to the bottom of a table top. The motor shaft drives a fan comprising of vanes or impeller to convert mechanical rotation into air current. The motor and fan assembly is mounted in a position so that it draws air vertically up from the direction of the deck where the table rests. The fan and motor assembly is housed within an enclosure that is also statically affixed out of plain view to the bottom side of the table top and distanced from the floor to allow leg room for occupants. This enclosure transforms the air flow horizontally by channeling it from a vertical air column to a horizontal direction that flows outward from the center of the bottom side of the table top to the outer edges of the table and onto the occupants. The housing has an air intake port with a debris guard that faces downward and a vent with a finger guard that faces outward up to 360 degrees in circumference on a plane that is parallel with the table top. Air is drawn upwards through the port into the enclosure avoiding the comingling of the horizontally vented air. The exhausted air can be controlled by multiple doors that can block the exhausted air to limit air flow to any one or more of the table's occupants. In the event a typical table shade umbrella is used with the table the fan's housing has two receptacles to receive a two or more sectional umbrella support pole. A receptacle at the top of the fan's housing receives the bottom of the upper portion of the umbrella's supporting pole and a receptacle at the bottom of the said housing receives the top of the lower portion of umbrella's supporting pole so that the umbrella's load can be transferred to its base through the fan's housing. The housing also offers a designated area for an optional heating element or heat exchanger and or water mister to optimally add or subtract heat to and from the air stream. The motor and fan assembly is powered by typical electrical current. For the scope and good faith of this invention the motor or electrical power is not limited to alternating or direct current and can utilize either in the event battery power is needed for remote operation or house current is constantly available. Furthermore, the optional two currents allow for the ease and or economics of installing optional motor speed attenuators for air velocity control.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, depicts a typical utility table with a motor and fan in an enclosure that has a cut away view.

FIG. 2, depicts the top and bottom view of the fan enclosure without the table and with a partially cut away view to show the vent doors.

FIG. 3, depicts a typical schematic of A.C. circuits for an alternating current fan motor.

FIG. 4, depicts a typical schematic of D.C. circuits for a direct current fan motor.

FIG. 5, depicts a basic power supply circuit that switches from A.C. power, to D.C. converted to ac power, to supply alternating-current circuits.

FIG. 6, depicts a basic power supply switching circuit that switches from D.C., to A.C. converted to D.C. by an inverter, to supply direct-current circuits.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1 a utility table with a motor and fan in an enclosure is shown. The bottom side of a table top (1) of a utility table having typical supporting legs (2) has an electrical motor (3) with an output shaft supporting a fan (4) that is affixed statically to (1) and an enclosure (5) which houses (3) and (4). Fan (4) draws air upwards into (5) through an intake port protected by a debris guard (8). A receptacle hole (11) to receive the top end of the lower section of an umbrella support pole (not shown) and a receptacle hole (12) to receive the bottom of the upper section of the umbrella support pole (not shown) is also incorporated in (5). Enclosure (5) redirects the air by channeling it perpendicular to the air stream going into (8) and exhaust it out through a vent (6) with pivoting vent doors (7) to block air flow to one or more directions up to 360 degrees on a plane parallel to (1) and avoiding the commingling of the intake and vented air. A port (9) is positioned in (5) to accept optional misting nozzles from an external water misting system not shown, which supplies mist directly into a cavity (10) of (5) where the full air flow passes through for optimal heat transfer. Cavity (10) also accepts an optional electric heating element or heat exchanger, not shown, for an optimum transfer of heat to the full air stream.

FIG. 2, Shows a top view (13) of the fan enclosure looking down with a cutaway section to view the pivoting vent doors (7) whereas, three vent doors from approximately 45 to 90 degrees of the vent's circumference are shown in the closed position blocking air flow from about 45 to 90 degrees of the vent's circumference. In addition it shows the central position of (12) the umbrella support pole receptacle hole. The second portion of FIG. 2 shows the bottom view (14) of the fan enclosure looking upward showing receptacle (11) that receives the lower section of the umbrella pole and its relative position to the debris guard (8) and fan enclosure (5).

FIG. 3, Shows a typical schematic for the invention using a alternating current type power source. The input supplies A.C. power that is switched on and off through switch (16) to control power to (3) an A.C. motor, and two auxiliary switches (17) and (19) that control outputs (18) and (20) for external options such as heaters and/or water misters. An optional motor speed control (15) can be used to control air velocities.

FIG. 4, Shows a typical schematic using a direct current type power source. The input supplies D.C. power and is switched on and off through switch (16) which supplies power to (3) a D.C. motor and two auxiliary switches (17) and (19) that control outputs (18) and (20) signals or power for external options such as heaters and or water misters. An optional motor speed control (15) can be used to control air velocities.

FIG. 5, Shows a basic switching circuit that can be used to power the invention where, alternating household current applied to the input (21). A D.C. battery current is applied to input (22) and is converted to A.C. by a conventional inverter (23). Input (21) and the converted input (22) are routed through a double pole switch (24). Switch (24) toggles either inputs A.C. or the converted D.C. directly to output (25) as alternating current.

FIG. 6, Shows a basic switching circuit that can be used to power the invention where, alternating household current applied to the input (26) is rectified to direct current by a rectifier (27) and where a D.C. battery current applied to input (28) are routed through a double pole switch (29). Switch (29) toggles either inputs (28), or (26) that is converted to D.C. to output (30) as direct current. 

1. An enclosed motorized fan assembly for use with a utility table comprising: a table; a direct current powered motor; said motor having an output shaft supporting vanes to convert mechanical rotation to air current; an enclosure that houses said motor and output shaft supporting vanes to convert mechanical rotation to air current; said housing enclosure that mounts out of plain view to the bottom side of said table; said table and fan housing having maximum floor clearance for leg room; said housing enclosure that channels and redirects air flow from vertical flow to a horizontal flow; said housing enclosure with intake port facing vertically and exhaust vent facing horizontally; said housing enclosure with debris guard on the intake port; said housing enclosure with an exhaust vent having a finger guard; said exhaust vent having doors that adjust for air direction and flow; said housing enclosure having receptacles to receive the connecting ends of a sectional support pole for a typical table umbrella.
 2. An enclosed motorized fan assembly for use with a utility table comprising: a table; an alternating current powered motor; said motor having an output shaft supporting vanes to convert mechanical rotation to air current; an enclosure that houses said motor and output shaft supporting vanes to convert mechanical rotation to air current; said housing enclosure that mounts out of plain view to the bottom side of said table; said table and fan housing having maximum floor clearance for leg room; said housing enclosure that channels and redirects air flow from vertical flow to a horizontal flow; said housing enclosure with intake port facing vertically and exhaust vent facing horizontally; said housing enclosure with debris guard on the intake port; said housing enclosure with an exhaust vent having a finger guard; said exhaust vent having doors that adjust for air direction and flow; said housing enclosure having receptacles to receive the connecting ends of a sectional support pole for a typical table umbrella.
 3. A table and enclosed motorized fan assembly in accordance with claim 1 and claim 2 having an electrical speed control;
 4. A table and enclosed motorized fan assembly in accordance with claim 1 and claim 2, and claim 3 wherein: said housing enclosure having a dedicated space for an optional electrical heating element;
 5. A table and enclosed motorized fan assembly in accordance with claim 1, claim 2 and claim 3 wherein: said housing enclosure having a dedicated space for an optional heat exchanger.
 6. A table and enclosed motorized fan assembly in accordance with claims 3 and 4 wherein: said housing enclosure having a dedicated port for an optional water misting nozzle.
 7. A table and enclosed motorized fan assembly in accordance with claim 1, claim 2 and claim 3 wherein: said housing enclosure having a dedicated port for an optional water misting nozzle
 8. A table and enclosed motorized fan assembly in accordance with claim 1 and claim 2 having an on off switch. 